Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-06
Killed by q Shell.

A BIT OF VIVID woRD-PAINTIsG BY THE RUSSIAN
NOVELIST.
The following is from Sebastopol by Count Leo
Tolstoi: We left Praskoukine coming back with
Mikhailon. He reached a less exposed place and
began 10 breathe again. when he perceived on
turning around, the sudden light OF a flash. The
sentinel shouted, MORTAR And one OF the SOL
oilers who followed added, at is coming straighe
into the bastion ~ NiEhailofT hooked Inc I,.I, n
Gus point or the bombsnell seemed 10 stop Directly
over his head, exactly the moment when IL WAS
impossible 10 tell what direction IL was going %
take. That Was for the space OF a second. sud-
denly, redoublfng Its speed, the proJectile come
nearer and nearer The sparks OF the fuse could
be seen flying out, the dismal kissing was plainly
audible IL was going 10 drop right Ia the midst
OF The battalion. Ito earth" shouted a voice.
MikhallOn ard Praskoukine obeyed. The latter,
with shut eyes, heard the shell fall somewhere
on the hard earth very near him. second, which
appeared 10 him an hour, passed, ana the shell did
not burst. PraskoukiIe was fT1ghIened; then he
asked himself what cause he had for fear. Per.
haps IL had fallen farther away, and he wrongly
imagfnged that he heard the ruse kissing near
him. opening his eyes, he was satisfied TO see
Mikhailon stretched motiCnless at his feet; but at
the same time he perceived yard on. the lighted
fuse or the Shell spinning around like top.
glacial terror, which stified every thought every
sentiment, took possession OF his soul. lie hid his
lace n his hands , Another second passed during
sations ana OF souvenirs PASSED through his mind.
"Whom Will IL Kill? Me or Mikhailof, or, indeed,
me? Ii In the head, II Will be ali over; n on the
foot, they Will cut IL on; then Il shall insist
that they give me chlorororm. And 1 may get
we'll Perhaps Mikhailon alone Will be killed, anc
later Will tell how We were close together, ana
how was covered with his blood. No, no! IL 10
nearer melt will be L." Then he remembered
the twelve rubles he owed Mikhailon and another
debt left At Petersburg, which ought TO have been
paid long ago. Bohemian air that he sang the
evening before came TO his mind. lie also saw
in his Imagination the lady he was IN love within
her ulac-trimmed bonnet the man who had In
suited him nve years before, and whom he had
never taken vengeance on But In the midst or
these and many other souvenirs the present feel
ing, the expectation OF death. did not leave him.
"Perhaps 1t Is not going TO explode. he thought,
desperate boldness. But at this instant a red
nre struck his eye-balls through the closed
Ids and something hit him In the middle
OF tue chest with terrible crash. He
ran forward at random, entangled his feet In his
sword, stumbled and fell on his side .'God be
praised! am only bruised,' This was his rirst
thought, and he wanted 10 feel OF his breast, but
his hands seemed as IL they were tied. A wise
g1pped his head soldiers ran before his eyes, and
soldiers; and besides an of1icer who is losing his
cloak" new light flashed; he wondered what
mad fired Was IL a mortar or a cannon? Doubt
less cannon. Another shot, more soldiers, nves
six, seven. They passed In front OF him, and sud:
denly he became terribly afraid OF being crushed
t pg ae wss T n1nse 70 bur cry ns s
dry, his tongue was glued 70 the roof OF
his mouth: He had burning thirst.
tion OF thus moisture made him think OF water.
He would have liked TO drink that which drenched
him. 81 must have Knocked the skin on Ia fall
Ing he said 70 himself and, more and more fright
ened at the idea or being crushed by the soldiers
who were running In the crowd before him, he
he a9 e sS terrible hs
frightened by IL himself. Then red sparks danced
before his eyes; ii seemed as II the soldiers were
rapidly; the stones piled on him stified him more
and more. He stretched himself cut; he ceased
TO see TO bear, 70 think, 10 feel. He had been
Killed instantly by a piece OF shell striking him
full Ia the breast